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Crazy bitch.

“What is it you want?” I bite out.

Smiling she answers with one simple word.

“You.”

CHAPTER 43

CELINE

Shivers wrack my body as I huddle in a ball in the corner of my cell.

Valen and I have fallen into a comfortable silence other than when I ask him a question and he answers in as few words as possible.

Valen is an interesting man. He’s not very forthcoming about his history or why he’s here, but I can tell he’s been locked away for far longer than I can fathom. His existence hasn’t seemed to have been kind but even with his broken soul, there’s an air to him that feels old. Ancient even.

“You’re a vampire, right?” I ask abruptly and his eyes dart to mine.

He hasn’t explicitly said it but from context clues there’s no other answer.

He replies with a tired, “Yes.”

“How old are you?” Curiosity gets the better of me.

“You’re bold for a human, aren’t you?” He lets out a mirthless laugh. The gruffness in his tone has improved slightly but it still sounds like it’s painful to speak.

“Eh, we’re both down here and I’m probably next on the chopping block so there’s room for boldness.” Of course I’mhoping Zav will come, I don’t doubt he’s looking, but from what little Valen has said, it’ll be hard to find us.

Chest rising and falling, he rolls his head to angle toward me.

“Much older than you can fathom, child.” A strand of dirt crusted hair falls into his eye, and he doesn’t make any move to touch it. How exhausted and hopeless he must feel.

“My boyfriend’s three-hundred years old.” I laugh at the statement as soon as it makes its way out of my mouth. “If you told me I’d be dating a vampire a few months ago I’d laugh in your face. On top of that, I’m a detective and it turns out he was the killer I was investigating the whole time on my case.” Valen stays silent but I can tell he’s listening. “He drives me insane, and our personalities couldn’t be more opposite but despite all of that...” I trail off.

“You love him.” Valen fills in the blank and internally I freak out for a second.

Do I love him?

Relatively speaking, Zavier and I haven’t known each other all that long. Since day one I was drawn to him. Mates or not I’m positive that magnetism would’ve been there. I’ll be damned if the mate bond dictates our relationship.

Cocky but sweet, handsome but devilish, he fills in the things I lack and vice versa. I haven’t completely forgiven him for not being forthright about his actions, but I’m not mad anymore. Blame it on potential impending death but being away from him and envisioning a life without him driving me up the wall, is hard to imagine.

“I love him.” I finally admit.

The realization is an exhilarating one and as soon as we’re reunited—because we will be since I refuse to even contemplate the alternative—I’m telling him exactly that. He deserves to know that I feel as much for him as he does me.

“Have you ever been in love?” I ask Valen.

He’s quiet for so long I worry I crossed a line and that he won’t answer.

“No,” he whispers. “But if I’m ever fortunate enough to find a love like the one you seem to have, it will have made all of this worth it.” A cough sputters out of his chest and an idea pops in my head.

“Feed from me,” I blurt out.

“What?” His voice is the loudest I’ve heard it.

“Feed from me. We can start building your strength so that we can bust out of here.” I don’t see any other options and he’s in worse shape than I am. It’s not my first choice to have a vampire that’s not Zav feed from me, but it’s life or death. If the resident vampire can ingest enough to give us an edge, we might have a chance. God knows I don’t stand a chance against a load of vampires, but Valen? He might if he’s strong enough. It’s obvious to me they’re keeping him weakened for a reason.